The career of American saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader Bill
Holman spanned six decades, from the 1950s to the 2000s. Born in Olive,
California, on May 21, 1927, Willis Leonard Holman played clarinet before
choosing the tenor saxophone as a teenager. After serving two years in the US
Navy, he studied engineering at UCLA before turning to music in 1948. He studied
composition at Westlake College and made his debut two years later in Charlie
Barnet's orchestra (1950-1953) while also arranging for Bob Keane. A partner of
Stan Kenton from 1952 to 1956, Bill Holman...